Phone settings

If you are looking at this blog for the first time on your phone scroll to the bottom of the page and open up in web version this allows you to view as if on a computer. On the right hand side you will see a new email address  where to send information too, email also below. All sightings are recorded onto a database , we have records going back to the 1970s . All sightings are useful as it adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife. Birds that you might think are common elsewhere may not be the case here at Rudyard.  Also high counts of species are also interesting aswell. Not only Birds but we are also interested in Butterflies and Dragonfly records to add to the database. Thank you for your cooperation regards Steve.

steveseal1957@gmail.com 

Love is in the Air

It's gone past valentines day but love was most certainly in the air today , three pairs courtship displaying .

Twenty two birds counted on site today.

February 28th 2025

The Merganser was showing really well this morning  just up from the dam amongst the moored boats. It was nice to see some old friends and meet some new faces aswell. Best of the rest today,  1 x Pink-footed Goose still with Canada flock at the north end  , 7 x Goosander  , 11 x Teal , 1 x Kingfisher  , 5 x Mistle Thrush , 4 x Grey Wagtail , 4 x Oystercatcher's and 1 x Red Kite. Selection of Red-Breasted Merganser images below taken early this morning. 

Additions to February 27th list

B  H Gull x 50

Canada Geese  x 107

Cormorant  x 13

Curlew x 2 ( New for 2025)

G B B Gull x 2

Lapwing  x 5

L B B Gull x 20

Oystercatcher  x 2

Tufted Duck  x 10.

Nuthatch

We have a good healthy Nuthatch population here at Rudyard,  you can't go very far without hearing their distinctive call . But can you tell the difference between male and female.  The males have a deeper chestnut flank and undertail than females as shown in the two images below.

Nuthatch male.

February 27th 2025

The first winter drake Red-breasted Merganser was showing well today just by the last moored boat up from the Dam,  only about 200yds walk which made it easy on the legs. At the north end the single Pink-footed Goose was still with the Canada flock also 6 x Greylag with them. Only 7 x female Goosander seen today and one Little Egret in the Cattle field south of the dam by the Land Rover garage. 15 x Teal and a Kingfisher best of the rest.

First winter drake Red-breasted Merganser. 

If you are looking at this blog for the first time on your phone scroll to the bottom of the page and open up in web version this allows you to view as if on a computer. On the right hand side you will see my email address where to send information too, email also below. All sightings are recorded onto a database , we have records going back to the 1970s . All sightings are useful as it adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife. Birds that you mfight think are common may not be the case here at Rudyard.  Also high counts of species are required aswell. Not only Birds we are also interested in Butterflies,  Dragonflies basically all wildlife that can be found here around the lake and surrounding area. Thank you Steve.

steveseal1957@gmail.com 

February 26th

I was determined this morning to find and photograph the Red-breasted Merganser that's been eluding me for the past few days , soon found it was present near the boathouse . A single Pink-footed Goose amongst the Canada flock at the north end. 11 x Goosander all females  , single Kingfisher,  2 x Little Egret , Sparrowhawk  , 3 x Buzzard and 9 x Cormorant. 

1st winter drake Red-breasted Merganser. 

Pink-footed Goose with Greylag's.

Pink-footed Goose with Canada flock.

February 25th 2025

Red Kite again today over the lake this afternoon also 5 x Raven and 5 x female Goosander',s.

Late News

Apparently the first winter drake Red-breasted Merganser is still present late evening with 10 x Goosander. 

February 24th 2025

I couldn't find the Red-breasted Merganser in a two hour search this morning,  it doesn't mean it's not there just possibly over looked. I saw one Red Kite myself around 11-00 over the lake but two were seen again later in the day. Best of the rest 3 x female  Goosander,  2 x Buzzard , single Little Egret sat in a tree by the Dam and two Grey Wagtails.  The usual suspects on the north end feeders along with a male Reed Bunting nearby. Some of today's Great Crested Grebe's were displaying to each other , always nice to watch.

February 23rd 2025

No reports either way today on the Red-breasted Merganser possibly due to the bad weather. Below is another excellent photo by Steve Gibson from yesterday's session.

Two Red Kites over the visitors centre this morning. 

View Blog

 If you are looking at this blog on your phone scroll down to the bottom of the page and open up in Web version . This allows you to see all the information on the page as viewed on a computer. On the right hand side you will see my email address where to send information too, email also below. All sightings are recorded onto a database , we have records going back to the 1970s . All sightings are useful as it adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife. Birds that you might think are common may not be the case here at Rudyard.  Also high counts of species are required aswell. Not only Birds we are also interested in Butterflies,  Dragonflies basically all wildlife that can be found here around the lake and surrounding area. Thank you Steve.

steveseal1957@gmail.com 

February 22nd 2025

The first winter drake Red-breasted Merganser still present today but no sign of yesterday evenings reported female Long-tailed Duck  . Also a single Pink footed Goose in amongst the Canada flock, 4 x Oystercatcher's and 12 x Goosander. Best of the rest include....90 x B H Gull's  , 9 x Cormorant  , 5 x Buzzard  , 8 x Siskin , 1 x Little Egret  , 7 x Teal , 20 x G C Grebe,  2 x Common Gull and a single Sparrowhawk. 

First winter drake R B Merganser photo by Steve Gibson.

If you don't already have my mobile number which most of you do. Here is a new contact email for sending sightings in. 

scseal29@yahoo.co.uk 

February 21st 2025

The first winter drake Red-breasted Merganser is still present halfway along the lake opposite the Lady of the Lake boathouse.

Late afternoon a report of what possibly could be a female Long-tailed Duck from the north end . 

February 20th 2025

Five Little Egrets all south of railway station also around 40 x Redwing in trees adjacent to station car park .

Late Afternoon 

A first winter drake Red-breasted Merganser at North end, 600 mts down railway side .

Three Oystercatcher's on the spit.

If you don't already have my mobile number which most of you do. Here is a new contact email for sending sightings in.

scseal29@yahoo.co.uk 

February 14th 2025

Red Kite drifted high south west over the south end of the lake just after mid day today. It was observed  flying over Tittesworth earlier in the day .

Contact Details

If you don't already have my mobile number which most of you do. Here is a new contact email for sending sightings in.

scseal29@yahoo.co.uk 

Report Sightings

 If you are looking at this blog on your phone scroll down to the bottom of the page and open up in Web version . This allows you to see all the information on the page as viewed on a computer. On the right hand side you will see my email address where to send information to email also below. All sightings are recorded onto a database , we have records going back to the 1970s . All sightings are useful as it adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife. Birds that you might think are common may not be the case here at Rudyard.  Also high counts of species are required aswell. Not only Birds we are also interested in Butterflies,  Dragonflies basically all wildlife that can be found here around the lake and surrounding area. Thank you Steve.

scseal29@yahoo.co.uk 

February 8th

A single Great White Egret this morning and 3 x Little Egret Heron Marsh , also noted 2 x Goosander  , 4 x Bullfinch,  4 x Teal and a single Jay. 

February 7th 2025

   CONFIRMED AVIAN INFLUENZA IN CHESHIRE

Late this evening official notification of Avian Flue from Middlewich area of Cheshire.

Here at Rudyard if you see any sick or dead birds report them to a Ranger ASAP. Do not under any circumstances touch any sick or dead bird.

February 6th 2025

Fourty Pink-footed Geese flew over heading n/w at around 10-00 this morning. The Willow Tit was heard again calling at the south end but not seen . Also 3 x Little Egret,  Jay and Buzzard.

February 4th 2025

Early morning walk  produced 7 x Common Gull with around 100 x Black headed Gulls off the spit and in the adjacent field. Siskin x 11 on the feeders along with 3 x Lesser Redpoll and around a dozen Goldfinch.  Else where a single Little Egret , 26 x Wigeon , 2 x Goosander  , 11 x G C Grebe , 7 x Cormorant,  41 x Fieldfare flew over and 8 x Chaffinch on seed in North Cark Park. Two Buzzard a single Jay and 6 x Moorhen south end. I looked for the Willow Tit for over a hour but no sight or sound of it unfortunately. 

February 3rd

Just a quick visit this morning to the north end all the usual on the feeders Siskin , Redpoll , Goldfinch,  Nuthatch,  Coal Tits etc . Single Raven over and three Teal on the marsh pool next to the bridge feeders . A couple of confiding treecreepers and a report of a Green Woodpecker at the south end by Heron Marsh which is a scarce bird at Rudyard with only a handful of reports each year.

Report sightings

If you are looking at this blog on your phone scroll down to the bottom of the page and open up in Web version . This allows you to see all the information on the page as viewed on a computer. On the right hand side you will see my email address where to send information to email also below. All sightings are recorded onto a database , we have records going back to the 1970s . All sightings are useful as it adds a picture to what's happening to our wildlife. Birds that you might think are common may not be the case here at Rudyard.  Also high counts of species are required aswell. Not only Birds we are also interested in Butterflies,  Dragonflies basically all wildlife that can be found here around the lake and surrounding area. Thank you Steve.

steveseal1957@gmail.com 

February 1st 2025

Fantastic news a Willow Tit has been seen and photographed along the old disused railway line just south of the Miniature Railway station next to Heron Marsh fishing pool.  Also today 11 x Siskin around the feeders and two Grey Wagtail by the Cattle grid. Others noted Greenfinch,  Goldcrest , Redwing , 2 x drake Tufted Duck and 6 x Goosander. Tawny Owl calling last night and early this morning.